Vehicle construction and suspension



Feb. 17, 1931. B F, Y R 1,793,337

VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION AND SUSPENSION Original Filed Oct. 8, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIHJHIIIIIIHIH 6,4101 mzq Feb. 17, 1931. B. F. SEYMOUR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION AND SUSPENSION Original Filed Oct. 8, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 swoon flow, ,3. Fig/noun Patented Feb. 17, 1 931 f consjrnucirron aim .susrnnsron f BENJAMIN a. snymoun, or wAsHinG'roN, DIfslrRICroi LcotunmA e A 1,793,337 a wThel'present invention relates to resilient suspenslons for vehicle "bodlesland conslsts inthecombi'n ations and arrangements of elem'ents hereinafter describedanol particularly set forth in-the, accompanying claims. The-purpose of the invention-'is'toprovide the body of a vehicle, especially of the motor driven type, with resilientmeans for .indi

rectly-absorbing and dissipating all shocks J or jars to which the -vehicle wheel .is subjected', and :without causing;nndueistrain on either thewvheel :01: its axle or transmitting excessive iribr'ationtdthe supported load.

Another object of the indirect-suspension 5 5 asproposed herein is the eniployment'o'f apparatus and disposal ot the elements thereof insuch a manner as will securethe maximum stability of the resilientsustaining'structure, and equitable location or distributioni'of the resilient devicesper 'se with regard to the body section or frame on whichthe same are mounted.

The invention is further characterized inthatthe resilient supporting elements larere- '=-"25 cip'rocably niounted on the respective axles of thevehicle to the end that the vehicle .wheels easilypass rover anyu'nevenness in the road bed without interfering with the equilibri'um or even 'ridingofthe vehiclebo'dy.

Thedifi'erent constructions herein shown 'are'proposed as modifications of those types of vehicle body suspension forming the subject-matter of my co pendingapplication for U. S. patent Serial No. 365,037, and filed March 11, 1920, now Patent No. 1,503,065 dated July 29, 1924, and Serial Number 4-30,- 694, filed Dec. '14, 1920, now Patent No. 1,556,165 datedOctober e, 1925, I The-invention isdisclosed byway of illustration inthe accompanying drawings,

whereinz .V-

1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the application of the invent-ion to a Vehicle. t

Fig; 2 is a transverse sectional view; showingthe same as 'appliedtdthefrontand rear axles of the vehicle. V

Fig. 3Jis'a view similar to "1; or a nodifiedconstruction. 1

. closed by flexible diaphragms- 19- and the -re- .Fig. tfisa similar-view of; another'iorm, I a V a a Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional'rview showing a furthermodification. Referring to theliconstructionfin"further detail, and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts inthegdifierentviews shown, the apparatus consists of the body" section: or, frame .6, of the':.vehicle having: the'nsual wheels journaled on the 6 0 axle 8; and 9 designates two hanger-arms dependingly secured to the frame '6 and con- 'n'ected 9at' theirfylower ends by a horizontally disposed shaft'1Q,--as shown. A pair'of similarl-and oppositely acting cone heads? 11 are L mounted to have}limited crecipro'cable' movement onthe:hanger'shaft10, as shownifif p j r A cylindrical casing I'12is pivotallymounted on a bolt 13 that is-suitablyfiournaled at V thefmiddle point offtheaxle 8. It :WlllTbe understood, ofcourSe, that the apparatus described. herein. is duplicated" on each of the vehicle axles: The two cpivota'l bearings 13 arevariant or in non-'alinement' as. clearly shown in Fig. 2. It-will :be noted that'this construction and arrangement providesfio'r with-holding thebody section or frame'from side tilting or swaying quiteregardless of any simultaneous or independent tilting of the wheel axles; i. eQthe frame'or body section of the. vehicle always remains level, though the. axles mayitake any' degree of rocking or tilting due to the road-way.

coneheads 11 tothefend of absorbingany 7 shocks orj'arsencountered in the travel of the vehicle; said cone elements 11 and 15 are nor- 9 In'ally held in cooperative relation underthe tension of a pair of springs 16 and 17 of relatively diiferent diameters,'mounted within the casing 12, asshowni A sleeve18 of suitable length isfinterposed between the spring elements 16' and17 to. keep the same in properalinement and against undue'fric- "tion, as will be'understood. Therespective ends of the cylindricalcasingare' suitably spective ends of theshaft ID are fitted with adjustable nuts 20, providingsuitable abutments for the cone heads'll.

cesses 241; formediin saiduprightiarms 21'.

The shaft'22 is provided with a pairiofluov:

able cone heads 25. adapted tohave limited movement against the tension ofthe spring '26, and cooperable with beveled.edgesformed on the respective ends 27 of the cylinder or" casing 28 that is in turn secured to the zbod-y of the car. The cone heads are adjustably mounted on. the shaft 22 and flexible dia phragms 29 inclose the respective endsaof I the cylindericasing,'as shown;

In the construction shown in. Fig.4 apair or disk-like membersaSO'} are reciprocably mounted onnthe middle portion 3 1"ofthe vehicle axle 32 andi'are normally distended by the spring member 33.. pair ofjcone heads. 34: mounted on the-frame or body 35 of'the vehicle engage the; top cone. heads 30 andsunder relative movement between the:

vehicle body and the axle 82, said cone-heads spring 33, as will beunderstood. 5 Q I In the'arangementshown in Fig. -5 the-supiport consists of two disk-like members- 36 reciprocable on the shaft 37 againstthetension 1 of the. springs. 38.. The coope rable" arrangement is in the. formrofi'a cone head 39 mounted on a hanger 4 0 suitably asecirred to the frame 41 or othenstru'cture'tofbe' sup ported; Ineach casetheworking mechanism is separately inclosed-iwithin a suitable: dustproof casing 42. as. shown, anda flexible diaphragnr 4C3; incloses the upper end offszuidfcas Itwill thus be seen 'that the types ofindirect suspensions herein disclosed g operate to transpose or cause all thrusts'to act'atfright angles to. impact or recoilthrust;:i.*e., at a right angle to? the direction Zofi imparted thrusts And inlikemannerdoes thezrecoil-"or reaction function. 7

It is: obvious that; those sk -neaa the; at a vary the details OflCOlTlSllLLICl'ilOIJJ and. arrangement of parts. withontdeparting from the spirit of my'invention; and, therefore,

bodies, the combination with a frame, an axle,

. I and. a Wheel journaled thereon, a hanger In the construction shown in Fig 3 a pair; of upright arms 21 suitably support altrans- :verse shaft 22 having head members 23 on its respective ends,.; fitting "within. suitable re-.

mounted on the axle having cone elements coopera ble with tlie ..'cone-1el-ements of the hanger} and resilient; means located..within operative relation, substantially as set forth. In resilient suspension for vehicle bodies, the combination with a frame, an"

axle, and'a wheel'journaled thereon, a pair of hang-erarms mounted on the frame, a shaft connecting said hanger arms, a pair of opp ositely acting. cone! heads; 'reoiprocable; on -the..-hang,ervshaftya pair of. cone; elements bodies, the combination with a' framegan axle, j

and a wheel journaled'thereon, pair of .thelcasingholding said Come elements in comounted on theJaxle-.cooperable ..witlr=:said

and resilient- .meaa'is 7 hanger arms monntedvom.the' frame, aishaft connectingsaid hangenarms, a-pairof oppo' 30 are, compressed against thetension of the" sitely' acting; cone heads-g mounted; on the hangenshaft, a cylindrical casingmounted on. the axiehaving: cone'gheads: cooperable with the cone head's of the. hanger shaft, and springs. located :withinthe cylindrical. .casr ing holding said cone elementsin cooperative "relation. i i I 5. In a. resih'ent suspension for vehicle bodies, the com-binationwith a, frame, anaxle, and a wheel journa'led thereon, a-hanger mounted" on the frame,,-, a pair of. oppositely acting .coneheads mounted on. the. hanger, a cylindrical casing mounted on the axle,- said casing having its respective heads constructed with beveled edges engaging with the-cone elements of the hanger, and resilientmeans locatedv within'the cylindrical casing for ten.- sioningthe-hanger cone heads. against'the beveled edges of said casing, substantially as setforth; I

' 6. LIna' resilient suspension for vehicle bodies the combination with a frame,.an: axle, and a wheel journaled thereon, hanger arms mounted on the frame, a shaft suspendedbevllO tween said arms'and carrying cone-elements,

a supporting member pivotally mounted on the axle, cone elements on said pivoted member .cooperable with said first mentionedcone elements, and'ineans holding said cone el'emerits in cooperative relation, substantially as set forth.

' 7 In a resilient suspension for. vehicle bodies, the combination with a frame, an

axle, and a wheel jour na-led thereon, a hanger mounted on} the frame having a horizontal shaft, cone elements reciprocablymounted onsaid shaft,ia support pivotally mounted on the axle, cone elementsron; said: support. .co-

operable with thecone elements of the hangbeing in non'alinement and on axes parallel forth.

er, and means holding saidco'ne elements in to the longitudinal axis of the body portion,

.-; cooperative relation, substantially asset substantially asset forth.

/ tially as set forth.

8. In vehicle construction and suspension, the combination of a frame, frontand rear axles, wheels journ'aled on the axles, a hanger for each of the axles and means for securing the hangers onftheframe, a casing for each hanger, resiliently operable cone elements Intestimonywhereof I aflix my signature.

a a BnN AMrNr, SEYMOUR.

inserted between each casing and the corre-,

sponding hanger, and pivoted hearings on.

the axles for the casings, said bearings being situated in the same verticalplane but in non-alignment, substantially as set forth.

' 9. In vehicle construction and suspension,

the combination of a frame, front andrear .axles, wheels journaled on the axles, a hanger for each of the axles, including arms secured to the frame, a shaft connecting the arms,

cone elements reciprocably mounted on the shaft; a casing for each hanger having othercone-elements cooperable with said first cone elements, resilient meansadapted to keep the respective cone elements in engagement; and p voted bearmgs oneach axle for lts caslng,

said bearings being situated in the same ver- 7' tical plane but in non-alignment, substan-tr E 10. In a vehicle construction, the combination with a vehicle body, axles and wheels thereon, of a journal on each axle with its axis at right angles to the axis of thewheel axle, a casing suspended from and offset with respect to said journal and provided with opposing friction elements, other friction elements associated with said body and mounted within the casing, and meansto yieldingly urge said other elements into frictional engagement with the first elements, whereby to hold the vehicle body against tilting or swaying, substantially as setforth.

11. In a wheeled vehicle the combination of a body portion, front and rear wheel mounted axles, and 'non-alined pivotal bearing connections between the vehicle body and the respective axles, said pivotal bearings be- I ing on axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, substantially as set forth. 12. In a wheeled vehicle the combination of a body portion, front and rear wheel mounted axles, and resilient suspension means mounting the body on each axle, said resilient suspension means having pivotal connections with the axles, and said pivotal connections being in non-aline1nent and on axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, substantiallyas set forth. I

13. In a wheeled vehicle the combination of a body portion, front and rear Wheel mounted axles, and a resilient means associating said body and axles, said resilient means having pivotal connections conjoining said axles and body, and said pivotal connections 

